Apparatus for comparing statistical record cards



A. THOMAS 2,614,750

APPARATUS FOR COMPARING STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Oct. 21, 1952 Filed Jan. 12, 1951 PW S N QN m Inventor Q 4, 2%? Maw;

Patented Oct. 21, 1952 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFF 2,614,750 ICE APPARATUS FOR COMPARING STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Application January 12, 1951, Serial No. 205,702

v In Great Britain February 2, 1950 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for comparing statistical record cards whereby information recorded on one card can be compared with information recorded on another card.

It is sometimes desired to compare the whole .of the information contained in a record card with that contained in another card but often it is desired only to compare the information contained in a certain field of one card with the information contained in a predetermined field of '1 another card. One example of the comparison of card fieldsis when, for the purpose of computing taxation, one card of a pair, which may be referred to as a primary card, contains a record made by way of perforations or otherwise in particular zones of the card, such information relatlng for example to a particular employee, the information bein required by a central authority, for example the Government, to be supplied by the employer. which may be termed a secondary card, shows by perforations or otherwise the wages andhours of work and is used by the employer in order to compute this information. At intervals the employer returns the secondarycards and the authority desires to compare them with the primary cards. As regards the information common to the primary and secondary cards, the cards of a pair will be identical for any given employee. When the cards have been collected they are put through a sorting machine and mechanically brought into sequence, the primary cards then being in the same order as the secondary cards.

The apparatus according to the invention is intended to be used for comparing primary and secondary cards to ascertain whether the sequence is correct. It will, therefore, be understood that apparatus according to the invention is not intended to veriiy'the correctness of entries recorded on the cards but is intended to ascertain whether in a selected field or fields the information contained in a pair of cards is identical.

In United States patent to Thomas No. 1,897,- 085, issued February 14, 1933, there has been described a machine for comparing perforated record cards, this machine comprising an upper and a lower sensing pin box of which the pins engage with upper and lower testing pins respectively, means tending to move one set of testing pins relatively to the other set and means preventing such relative movement when the cards passing through the upper and lower sensing pin boxes do not agree. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of comparing apparatus,

The other card of each pair,

the apparatus being so constructed that the .individual parts of the apparatus can be manufactured and assembled in an economical manner.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for comparing perforated record cards, comprising a first and second set of flat slidable elements, the elements of the two sets being paired to represent like card index positions and being movable in opposition as the result of impulses imparted thereto from record card sensing devices associated therewith, each slidable element of each set having an abutment extending therefrom and lying between the planes of the fiat faces of the element, an axially movable pin associated with each slidable element to engage the abutmentthereon, compression springs independently encircling the pins and through said pins urging the slidable elements of the two sets in opposite directions, and testing means to test the relative positions of the paired elements of the two sets of elements to determine whether v movable, a connecting member for each detector plate extending laterally from the testing element, each connecting member being located in a slot extending lengthwise of its associated detector plate to permit lengthwise movement of the detector plate relative to the testing element, and means to effect actuation of the testing element.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which,

Figure l is a section through comparing apparatus according to the invention, and

Figure 2 illustrates a detail of the arrangement of the apparatus 7 Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 shows the comparing apparatus for comparing one column of a pair of record cards. It will be understood that the comparing apparatus will include a column for each card column. of the cards to be compared, thus if thecards to be compared are -column cards then 65 columns as shown in Figure 1 will be employed in the comparing apparatus. Since, however, each of the columns of the comparing apparatus is identical it will be sufficient to the understanding of the invention to describe the construction and mode of operation of one column only.

, 3 of flatslidable elements 2, the' el'ements of the two sets being paired as shown in the drawing and each pair being representative of like card index positions. The slidable elements l and 2 are guided respectively for lengthwisemovement in slots formed in guide plates 3, 4 and 5, 6 respectively, the guide plates beingsupported by bars 1 secured to the side namesof the machine.

From the drawing it will be seenthat each element 1 and 2 is provided with an abutment!) which, as can be clearly seen from Figure 2, extends from the element and lies between the planes of the flat faces of the element. Associ ated with each of the slidable elements is an axially movable pin I -supported for lengthwise "movement in holes formed in the plates 3. 4

andf5, firespectively. Each of the pins ID has ,aic'ollar or shoulder It to abutfagainst either the plate 3 or the plate 6, as shown in Figure 1,

and compression springs I2independent to each of the pins'encircles "the pins and urges the pins into engagement with their associated'abutnients 9, the'pins'and springstending to urge "the elements I and 2 in opposite directions.

'The' slidableelements I and '2"are'also capable of movement in opposite directions as the result of impulses imparted thereto by transmission members indicated diagrammatically at l3 and i l respectively. I fdesired, these transmission members may'comprise elements similar to the parts S and 11 described inthe" aforesaid United States Patent No. 1,897,985 but preferably the comparing-apparatus is associatedlwith sensing apparatus as described in co-pendingapplication S. N. 2 06, 178, filed January 16, 1 951, and the transmission members are constructed as therein described.

To the end iofea'ch:of thesliding'elements I,

opposite the endjat which is formed'the abutrnent 9, is connected a'detector plate IS, The

Each detector plate "has a slot '20 formed therein and inthe slot 2 0 is located a connecting member 2| comprising a pin which'extends later- "ally from a testing element comprising a slide "22 mounted for movement transversely of the paths in which the slidable elements I and 2 "are movable.

The testing element 22 is' retained in inactive position, as'shown in Figure 1, by a bail 23 mounted on a rock shaft 24 adapted to be rocked in known manner by a cam not shown. The bail 23 is common to each of the testing elements 22 provided'in the comparing apparatus and each testing element 22 is urged to testingposition,

that is tothe right as viewed in Figure 1, by aspring 25'surroundinga-pin 26 mounted in a bracket 21 secured to the-frame of the machine. As has been previously I mentioned it may i be required only to compare certain selected card fields, for example fields composed of ten 'card' columns, as it is only inthese particular fields that the data'contained in-a primary and a secondary card is identical, the remaining fields of the cards containingunlike data. As it: is not required to compare" the columns known to' 0611- tain unlike data 'means isprovided whereby the comparing apparatus may be conditioned so that although these fields will be sensed by the sensing mechanism associated with the comparing apparatus and the results of the sensing will be transmitted to the comparing apparatus, the fact that there is disagreement between these fields of the cards will not interfere with the comparison being efiected between the selected T'o'this end each column of the comparing apparatus is provided with a cut-out device which consists of a bell crank 28 pivoted at 23 to the testing element 22, the upper arm of thebell crank being under control of a spring 30 and the other arm of the bell crank being en- 'gaged'by apin fl extending laterally from a cut out'lever 32 settable fromth rear of the "'ma- "chine. The b'ell crank 28 is provided with -'a hook element 33 which, when a testing element '22 is conditionedfor atesting operation as shown in Figure 1, is hooked over the bail 23 and blocks err the open p'art of anotch 34 formed in'the testing element 22 in which the bail is located. Bythis means when the slidable elements I, 2

have'been'set' and the shaft 24 is rocked to move the bail 23'clock'wlse as viewed in Figure 1, the

testing element 22 is'caused by its spring 25 to follow the movement-of the bail if each of the -slidable elements I' and 2 of the column is in-a state indicating agreement. 'Asregards the cutout columns, however, the bell cranks for those columns will have been moved to the position shown in dotted line in Figure 1 so that the hook 33 is raised but of thepath of the bail 23 and "although in those columns there may be indicated a stateof disagreement the forward movement of the bail'will not be obstructed by the testing bars for those columns as it will be free to move in the right hand portion of the slots 34 formed in the'testing bars'22 for those columns although the testing'bars for those columns will not follow the bail.

In order that the operation of the apparatus may be clearly understood there has been illustratedin Figure 1 the'various conditions which can occur during the operation of the apparatus.

, In the-following description it will be assumed that thesl'idable elements I are to receive impulses as a result of the sensing of 'a prim'ary card and that the'slidable elements 2 are to receive impulses as the result of the'sensing of a secondary card. It will'also be understood that each element l is actuated when a hole is sensed in the corresponding index position of a primary 'card while, conversely,'eaelielement 2 is actuated as a result of there being no'hole sensed in the corresponding index position of a secondary card.

If as a result of the sensing of a primary and-a secondary card impulses are sent to the comparing apparatus indicating that for "a particular index position there is no holein the primary card but that there is a hole in the'secondary card, then the slidable elements for that position will not be moved as is indicated at la and 2a. 'Cons'equentlythe detector member Ha will be located in the position-shown in Figure 1' so that it'will'abutagainst the'face I8 of theslidable element-2a andwhen the shaft 24 is rocked the bail 23 will be prevented from moving ina elockwisedirection as the testing element'22 will be substantially restrained against movement to the right,as viewed in Figure 1, and movement of the bail will be obstructed by the h0ok'33 on the bell crank 28. The fact that the bail 23 cannot '76' move through its full distance in a clockwise direction indicates disagreement between the primary and secondary cards and this lack of movement of the bail and its shaft 24 can be utilised to emit a signal indicative of the disagreement. The signal may take the form of mechanism adapted to deliver the primary and secondary cards into special card receivers as described in the aforesaid United States Patent No. 1,897,085, or it may actuate mechanism to effect a stoppage of the machine, or it may, if desired, actuate mechanism as described in co-pending application S. N. 205,841, filed January 13, 1951, whereby the two disagreeing cards are delivered to the same receivers as the agreeing cards but are displaced in the receiver with respect to the agreeing cards contained therein.

If on sensin a primary and a secondary card the condition sensed is that for a particular index position there is no hole in the primary or the secondary card, the comparing apparatus will be conditioned as indicated by the slidable elements lb, 2b and the element Ib will not be actuated but the slidable element 2b will be moved upwards so that the notch I9 formed therein is moved into alignment with the detector member I'Ib. Accordingly when the shaft 24 is actuated, the bail 23 can, assuming conditions indicative of agreement in the other elements of the column, move clockwise to its full extent and the detector member IIb moves into the notch IS in the slidable element 2b, as shown in Figure 2. As the ball 23 moves clockwise the spring 25 causes the testing element 22 to follow the bail so that the pin 2Ibrocks the detector plate Ib to move the detector member IIb into the notch I9.

If as a result of a sensing operation there is for aparticular index position of the primary and secondary cards a hole in each of the cards then for that position there will be a state of agreement and this will be indicated in the comparing apparatus as shown by the slidable elements I0 and 20. In this instance the slidable element Ic is moved downwards as indicated in Figure 1, while the slidable element is not moved. The downward movement of the slidable element Ic causes the detector plate I5c to be moved relative to the testing element 22 so that the detector member He is lowered into alignment with the notch I9 in the slidable element 20. Accordingly on operation of the shaft 24 the bail 23 can move to its full extent in its clockwise path in the manner just described in the preceding paragraph.

If, when a primary and a secondary card are sensed, it is found that for a particular index position there is a hole in the primary card but no hole in the secondary card, there exists a state of disagreement which is indicated in the comparing apparatus as shown by the slidable elements Id and 2d. For this condition it will be observed that the slidable element Id is moved downwards and that the slidable element 2d is moved upwards. The result of these movements of the slidable elements in opposite directions is that the notch I9 in the slidable element 2d is raised above the position to which the detector member IId is lowered, and the detector member I'Id is aligned with the face I80, of the slidable element 2d. Accordingly, on actuation of the shaft 24, as the testing element 22 is restrained against movement to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, the bail 23 is likewise restrained against movement thus indicating a condition or disagreement between the primary and secondary cards.

It will be understood that in the foregoing description of the operation of the apparatus there has been described each of the four conditions which may occur in a column of the comparing apparatus as the result of the sensing of a primary and a secondary card. It should also be understood that while each of these four conditions may occur in the same column with respect to one or more of the index positions represented thereby, a single condition indicative of disagreement will dominate to restrain movement of the bail 23 regardless of conditions indicative of agreement in all other paired elements I, 2, of the same column.

From the foregoing it will be understood that by manufacturing the slidable elements, detector plates and testing elements in the form of thin flat plates it is possible to arrange the columns of the comparing apparatus in close relation so that if the apparatus is adapted for comparing cards having or more columns the apparatus, as a whole, is of a minimum size. Further, the manufacturing processes entailed in making the fiat elements are simpler, and therefore cheaper, than would be the case if elements of more complicated shape were employed, and the simple manner in which the parts can be assembled also further enhances the economy of production of apparatus according to the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for comparing perforated record cards, comprising a first and a second set of flat slidable elements the elements of the two sets being paired to represent like card index positions and being movable in opposition as the result of impulses imparted thereto from record card sensing devices, associated therewith, each slidable element of each set having an abutment extending therefrom, an axial movable pin associated with each slidable element to engage the abutment thereon, compression springs independently encircling the pins and through said pins urging the slidable elements of the two sets in opposite directions, and testing means to test the relative positions of the paired elements or the two sets of elements to determine whether the elements of the two sets indicate agreement or disagreement between two record cards acted upon by the sensing devices.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the testing means comprises for each slidable element of one of said sets, a detector plate pivoted to depend from its associated slidable element, a detector member extending laterally from the detector plate to detect in the other set the position of the slidable element with which it is paired, a testing element movable transversely of the paths in which the slidable elements are movable, a connecting member for each detector plate extending laterally from the testing element, each connecting member being located in a slot extending lengthwise of its associated detector plate to permit lengthwise movement of the detector plate relative to the testing element and, means to effect actuation of the testing element.

ARTHUR THOMAS.

No references cited. 

